Oriana Fallaci Criticism
Oriana Fallaci (1930–2006) remains a pivotal figure in both journalism and literature, renowned for her incisive and direct style that frequently challenged the boundaries of objective reporting. Her approach to journalism, notably through intense and sometimes confrontational interviews with world leaders such as Henry Kissinger and Yasir Arafat, has been compared to cinéma vérité by critics like Santo L. Arico. As Jeffrey Burke noted, Fallaci's willingness to forsake traditional objectivity in favor of poetic excess and polemics was part of her quest to unveil deeper truths, cementing her legacy within the new journalism movement.
Her literary works span a range of themes, from the societal roles of women explored in The Useless Sex—a critique of women's status as analyzed in Report—Italian Style—to her vivid accounts of the Vietnam War in Nothing, and So Be It, praised by Margaret Parton. Her reportage on the American space program in If the Sun Dies was also recognized by John C. Kendrew for its innovative critique of science and technology. A Man, delving into Fallaci's personal relationship with Greek activist Alexandros Panagoulis, reflects her exploration of heroism and political struggle.
While Fallaci's works often provoke debate due to their emotional intensity and what Isa Kapp and Francine du Plessix Gray describe as occasional sentimentality, they also offer profound insights into the human condition. Her novel Letter to a Child Never Born delves into the solitude of emancipated women, capturing internal conflicts between personal desires and societal expectations. Despite critiques, Fallaci's disciplined prose and insightful narratives, as affirmed by Hope Hale Davis and John Begley, contribute significant perspectives on life's purpose and the societal roles of women.
The depth and "psychodrama" inherent in Fallaci's narratives, as observed by Vivian Gornik, exemplify her ability to engage meaningfully with her subjects and readers alike. Her legacy endures as a testament to her fearless exploration of themes entwined with truth and power, leaving an indelible mark on journalism and literature.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Fallaci, Oriana (Vol. 110)
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Report—Italian Style
(summary)
In the following review, the critic considers Fallaci's descriptions of women's liberation around the world in The Useless Sex. The motive behind this book is "a reportage on the status of women." The author departs via Ankara for points east to inquire into the conditions of the female species, accompanied by a Roman photographer who grows more and more disillusioned about his chances of amorous escapades as the trip proceeds.
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Diary of an Infatuation with the Future
(summary)
In the following review, Henniker-Heaton relates the style and substance of Fallaci's If the Sun Dies, which she describes as a "diary of a year in my life."
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Out of Orbit
(summary)
In the following review, Ley comments on Fallaci's reactions to the American space program in If the Sun Dies. Oriana Fallaci is an Italian journalist who came to the United States a few years ago to have a personal look at the space program and related activities. She came to this task armed with nothing more than the knowledge of a few American science-fiction stories, and she found the impact of advanced science and technology quite disturbing. She interviewed engineers, medical doctors, public relations men and astronauts. Throughout, she had a pronounced tendency to veer off the theme and to ask irrelevant questions.
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If the Sun Dies
(summary)
In the following review, Kendrew praises Fallaci's If the Sun Dies as "one of very few pioneer works in a new genre."
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Nothing, and So Be It
(summary)
In the following review, Parton considers the Vietnam experiences that are the basis of Fallaci's Nothing, and So Be It. Nothing, and So Be It is the harrowing account of Miss Fallaci's search, in the midst of man's utmost bestialities, for a better answer to the question of life.
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Letter to a Child Never Born
(summary)
In the following review, Stahel discusses the plot outline and the ideas raised in Fallaci's novel Letter to a Child Never Born.
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Fallaci Records: Unanswered Questions
(summary)
In the following review, Burke considers Fallaci's devices in genres such as interviews, non-fiction works, and the novel.
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A Journalist in Love
(summary)
In the following review of A Man, Gornik assesses the strengths and failings of Fallaci's method and style.
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Oriana Fallaci's Discovery of Truth in Niente E Cosi Sia
(summary)
In the following essay, Arico compares Fallaci's style and techniques with those of the documentary film genres cinéma vérité and direct cinema. Although Oriana Fallaci is best known as a political interviewer, she is also recognized as an accomplished author of three novels and five works of non-fiction. Niente E Cosi Sia, the writer's novelistic report of the most unpopular war in American history, earned Italy's Premio Bancarella and placed her in the ranks of the most severe critics of United States foreign policy during the Vietnam War. Fallaci's political view evolves throughout the work, reflecting a journey toward a new understanding of truth, influenced by her journalistic methods that align with cinematic documentary techniques.
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Breaking the Ice: An In-Depth Look at Oriana Fallaci's Interview Techniques
(summary)
In the following essay, Arico examines the techniques that he believes make Fallaci an effective and engaging interviewer.
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Designing Mothers: Images of Motherhood in Novels by Aleramo, Morante, Maraini, and Fallaci
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Pickering-Iazzi compares the treatment of women and motherhood in novels by Fallaci and three other Italian writers. The study examines the designs of motherhood, the architecture and aesthetic purpose of its imagery, and the meanings enclosed in and suggested by the maternal images.
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Oriana Fallaci's Journalistic Novel: Niente e così sia
(summary)
In the following essay, Arico examines the meeting of journalistic and novelistic techniques in Fallaci's Niente e così sia. Although Oriana Fallaci is best known as a political interviewer, she is also recognized as an ardent practitioner of New Journalism. According to the critic James C. Murphy, this innovative approach allows the journalist's opinions, ideas, and commitments to permeate the story. Fallaci's effort to write Niente e così sia, her report of the war in Vietnam, is a classic example of such activism. The personal nature of her account runs counter to more conventional journalistic objectivity, and her bias colors the narration. Her anti-American and pro-Vietcong feelings are a matter of public record, but during her stay in wartorn Vietnam, Fallaci's perceptions undergo a noticeable transition and this change develops into one of the most interesting aspects of her book.
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Waiting for the Suicide Truck
(summary)
In the following review, Keneally discusses Fallaci's reportage of the Beirut conflict.
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Dogs
(summary)
In the following review of Inshallah, Bennett assesses the strengths and weaknesses of Fallaci's portrayal of war-torn Beirut.
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Report—Italian Style
(summary)
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Fallaci, Oriana (Vol. 11)
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Oriana Fallaci and the Facts of Life
(summary)
In the following essay, Isa Kapp critiques Oriana Fallaci's approach in "Letter to a Child Never Born," highlighting the author's tendency towards dramatic prose and self-centered rhetoric, which undermines the serious discourse on abortion and motherhood, while suggesting that Fallaci's work lacks the emotional depth and disciplined perspective required for such a complex subject.
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Francine du Plessix Gray
(summary)
In the following essay, Francine du Plessix Gray critiques Oriana Fallaci's "Letter to a Child Never Born" for its profound exploration of the solitude faced by emancipated women, while also noting the work's struggle with sentimentalism, stereotypical characters, and the challenges of addressing motherhood within a feminist framework.
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Hope Hale Davis
(summary)
In the following essay, Hope Hale Davis analyzes Oriana Fallaci's novel Letter to a Child Never Born, highlighting its vivid portrayal of pregnancy and the internal conflict between instinctual desires and the pursuit of external achievements, while also critiquing Fallaci's struggle to impart depth and richness to the narrative.
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John Begley
(summary)
In the following essay, John Begley argues that Oriana Fallaci's Letter to a Child Never Born is an unforgettable novel due to its intensely personal exploration of life's purpose and value, effectively conveyed through a difficult monologue form that showcases Fallaci's disciplined talent and offers a worthwhile reading experience.
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Oriana Fallaci and the Facts of Life
(summary)
- Further Reading